It's not.
Decoding encrypted enemy radio messages
The first proper computers were used to help the Allies decode German encrypted messages during World War II.
Pito
Pito
The Colossus computer, developed during World War II at Bletchley Park, primarily processed encrypted messages from the German Lorenz cipher machine. Its input consisted of punched tape, which contained the binary representations of these messages. Operators would feed the punched tape into the Colossus, allowing it to perform complex logical operations to help decipher the encrypted communications. This groundbreaking machine significantly advanced the field of computing and cryptanalysis.
Examples of encrypted messages include emails protected by PGP (Pretty Good Privacy), chat messages sent via apps like Signal or WhatsApp that use end-to-end encryption, and files secured using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption. Additionally, secure communications in banking or online transactions often involve encrypted messages to protect sensitive information. Overall, encryption ensures that only authorized parties can access the content of the messages.
Some private computer communications are not encrypted, leading the the danger of eavesdropping.
Colossus, the first electronic digital computer, was tasked with decoding messages during World War II, particularly those encrypted by the Lorenz cipher used by the German military. The messages were intercepted by British codebreakers, who then fed the encrypted data into Colossus. The machine utilized a series of logical circuits and Boolean algebra to process and analyze the ciphered texts, effectively decoding them and providing crucial intelligence to the Allies.
The Colossus was created to decode encrypted messages from Germany during World War Two using the infamous "Enigma" machine. For full rundown see Simon Singh's "The Code Book".
The holes in the Colossus computer were designed to hold punched tape, which stored messages and data for processing. This method allowed the Colossus to read and interpret encrypted messages during World War II, particularly those generated by the German Lorenz cipher machine. The use of punched tape facilitated rapid data input and helped automate the decryption process, significantly aiding Allied intelligence efforts.
Encrypted files can only be accessed by authorized computer users who have the decryption key. Encryption is a popular technique in Information Security.
By giving the messages to who ever you are supposed to give them to.